At any time since 1960 the idea of the big band has been a mad one. What sane person would wish to put their heart and soul into a project that makes less economic sense than anything Mr Madoff and Mr Ponzi could come up with between them.
And yet, with such financial gloom all around us, what better way to say: what the heck?
So, hurrah for Beats & Pieces, the big band out of Manchester, which is heading out on a little tour from Saturday. They are playing thus:
Saturday 28 Jan: Turner Sims, Southampton
Thursday 16 Feb: RNCM, Manchester
Monday 20 Feb: Ronnie Scott’s, London
Saturday 24 Mar: The Sage, Gateshead
Wednesday 28 Mar: Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple
So, if you like your Basie mashed up with Zorn, and that life-giving brass blast that rattles your eyeball – and who doesn’t?! – you know where to go.
For more info go here.
Crumbs
Good opening line…
It got me thinking, the first that sprang to mind was Michael Buble and the UK equivalents like Peter Grant. Then of course there is Jools Holand…
Then I thought of the local scene in Yorkshire, The Tony Faulkner Yorkshire Jazz Orchestra, Ronnie Bottomley’s Big band amongst others, and why do they do it…
I think your right its not for the money, like a lot of Jazz musicians it is for the love of the music. And thank goodness
Hi Peter & Mark,
Yep you’re absolutely right, if any musicians are playing in big bands purely for the financial gain they’re unfortunately going be disappointed I think… I’ve been really lucky running Beats & Pieces to have a group of really committed and dedicated musicians that have consistently made themselves available for our rehearsals and gigs over the years for little to no money, often depping out other far more lucrative gigs to do so, because the band is important to them, they get a lot out of it, and above all playing with loads of your mates in a big band is such a fun gig… Its really great to see so many new and established large ensembles making things happen despite the obvious difficulties, long may this continue!
Thanks for posting our tour dates Peter! We’re hoping to come and play in Birmingham again soon after appearing at Mostly Jazz last year – we’ll keep you posted…
Cheers,
Ben